座禅

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 座禅 is a noun for seated Zen meditation and is read ざぜん.
• Basic usage: Practicing it uses the fixed expression 座禅を組む, while completion appears in 座禅を終える.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Fixed combination
  • Japanese commonly uses 座禅を組む for practicing zazen, so it should not be reduced to the literal idea of simply sitting.
• Difference from 瞑想
  • 瞑想 broadly covers forms of meditation, while 座禅 specifically denotes seated Zen practice.